English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
358 words
guilder
C1
/ˈɡɪldɚ/
the former standard monetary unit of the Netherlands, divided into 100 cents
cashbox
C2
/ˈkæʃ.bɑːks/
a locked or sturdy box used for holding cash, coins, or other valuables
taxable
B2
/ˈtæksəbəl/
legally subject to tax
mark-up
C1
The amount added to the cost of goods to set the selling price and make a profit.
lucre
C2
/ˈlukɚ/
money or profit, especially when regarded as sordid, corrupting, or dishonestly gained
livre
C2
/ˈliːvɹə/
A unit of currency formerly used in France, divided into 20 sols or sous.
corollary
C2
/kɒˈɹɒləɹi/
a practical consequence that follows naturally
insolvency
C2
/ɪnˈsɑːlvənsi/
the state of being unable to pay debts when they become due
halfpenny
C2
/ˈheɪp(ə)ni/
an English coin worth half a penny
cashpoint
B1
A machine in a wall where you can take out cash using a bank card.
overpay
B2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈpeɪ/
to pay more than the required, reasonable, or fair amount for something or to someone
moneyed
C2
/ˈmʌniːd/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
specie
C2
/ˈspiːʃi/
money in the form of coins, especially gold or silver coins with intrinsic value rather than paper currency
picayune
C2
/ˌpɪkəˈjun/
Of little consequence; small and of little importance; petty, trivial.
tontine
C2
/ˈtɑnˌtiːn/
a joint investment or annuity in which the benefits or shares of members who die pass to the surviving participants
profundity
C2+
/pɹəˈfʌndɪti/
the quality of being physically deep
merk
C2
/mɝːk/
a historical Scottish silver coin and unit of account worth thirteen shillings and fourpence Scots
pecuniary
C2
/pəˈkjuniˌɛɹi/
relating to or involving money
defray
C2
/dɪˈfɹæɪ/
bear the expenses of
baksheesh
C2
/ˌbækˈʃiːʃ/
a tip, gratuity, or small bribe given to obtain service or cooperation, especially in parts of Asia and the Middle East
half-dollar
B2
/ˈhæfˌdɑlər/
a United States coin worth fifty cents, or the sum of fifty cents
moneybag
C2
/ˈmʌniˌbæɡ/
a bag or pouch used to hold or carry money
impecunious
C2
/ˌɪm.pəˈkjuː.ni.əs/
Lacking money.
tenpence
C2
/ˈtɛnpəns/
the sum or value of ten pence, especially in historical British currency
eightpence
C2+
/ˈeɪt.pəns/
the monetary sum of eight pence, especially in historical British currency
denarius
C2
/dɪˈner.i.əs/
the principal silver coin of ancient Rome, originally worth ten asses and later sixteen, and equal to four sesterces
munificence
C2
/mjuːˈnɪfɪsəns/
Great generosity, especially in giving money or gifts.
twopenny
C2
/ˈtʌpəni/
costing or worth two old pennies
repurchase
C1
/ˌriːˈpɝːtʃəs/
to buy something again or buy back something that was previously sold
self-aggrandizement
C2
/ˈsɛlˈfægrənˌdaɪzmənt/
Acting to increase your own power, wealth, or importance.
taxonomic
C2
/ˌtæksəˈnɒmɪk/
of or relating to taxonomy
emolument
C2
/əˈmɑljəmənt/
Payment or financial benefit received from a job or official position.
usurious
C2
/juˈʒʊriəs/
charging or involving illegally or unfairly high interest on a loan
arrear
C2
/əˈɹɪɹ/
an unpaid or overdue amount, now most commonly used in the plural arrears
unstinting
C2
/ˌʌnˈstɪntɪŋ/
Generous and tireless with one's contributions of money, time, etc.
rouleau
C2+
/ruːˈloʊ/
a small roll, especially a roll of coins wrapped in paper
spondulicks
C2+
/spɑːnˈduːlɪks/
dated slang: money or available funds
sestertius
C2
/sɛˈstɝʃiəs/
an ancient Roman coin and unit of account worth one-quarter of a denarius, originally two and a half asses and later four asses
debenture
C2
/dəˈbɛntʃɝ/
a long-term debt instrument issued by a company or government; in US usage it is usually unsecured, while in UK usage it may be secured on assets
remunerate
C2
/rɪˈmjunəˌreɪt/
to pay or otherwise reward someone for work, services, or a loss
mortgagee
C1
/ˌmɔrɡɪˈdʒiː/
One who provides a loan secured upon the borrowers' property: the lender in a mortgage agreement.
coiner
C2
/ˈkɔɪnɚ/
a person who makes counterfeit coins
fiar
C2
/ˈfiːər/
in Scotland, an officially determined standard price, especially an annual legally fixed price for grain; usually used in the plural fiars
acceptor
C2
/əkˈsɛptɚ/
a person or institution that accepts a bill of exchange and thereby undertakes to pay it when due
obolus
C2
/ˈɑː.bə.ləs/
an ancient Greek coin, especially a small silver coin worth one sixth of a drachma
stiver
C2
/ˈstaɪvər/
a former Dutch coin worth one twentieth of a guilder
tallage
C2
/ˈtælɪdʒ/
historical: a tax or compulsory payment levied by a feudal lord or monarch on tenants, towns, or royal lands
piastre
C2
/piˈæstɚ/
historical: a coin or monetary unit of varying value, especially a Spanish piece of eight or an Ottoman currency unit
unthrifty
C2
/ʌnˈθrɪfti/
wasteful or imprudent in the use of money or resources; not economical
multure
C2
/ˈmʌltʃɚ/
historical or chiefly Scottish: a fee paid to a mill owner for grinding grain or pulverizing ore, often taken in kind
annuitant
C2
the recipient of an annuity
opulently
C2
In a way that shows great wealth and luxury.
recoinage
C2
/ˌriːˈkɔɪnɪdʒ/
the act or process of replacing existing coins by minting them again, often at a new weight or standard
excisable
C2
/ˈeksaɪzəbəl/
finance and law: liable to an excise duty or tax
bank account
B1
credit card
A1
pocket money
B1
aggrandize
C2+
/əˈɡrændaɪz/
to increase the power, wealth, or reputation of someone or something
lavish
C2+
/ˈlævɪʃ/
luxuriously abundant, or to give in great quantity
canny
C2+
/ˈkæni/
shrewd, careful, and quick-witted, especially in money matters
creditable
C2+
/ˈkrɛdətəbəl/
deserving credit or praise; reasonably good
destitute
C2+
/ˈdɛstəˌtut/
extremely poor and lacking the basic necessities of life
remuneration
C2+
/rɪˌmjunəˈreɪʃən/
money paid for work or a service; payment
aby
C2+
/əˈbaɪ/
to pay the penalty for; to atone for
kitty
C2+
/ˈkɪti/
a pool of money contributed by a group; informally, a kitten or cat
miserly
C2+
/ˈmaɪzɚli/
extremely reluctant to spend money; stingy
pelf
C2+
/pɛlf/
money or wealth, especially when regarded as ill-gotten or contemptible
riches
C2+
/ˈrɪtʃɪz/
abundant wealth or valuable possessions
barter
C2+
/ˈbɑːrtɚ/
to exchange goods or services without using money
comptroller
C2+
/kənˈtroʊlɚ/
a controller, especially one supervising financial accounts
delinquent
C2+
/dɪˈlɪŋkwənt/
failing in duty or guilty of an offense; overdue in payment
divest
C2+
/daɪˈvɛst/
to deprive or rid of something; to sell off assets or holdings
flog
C2+
/flɑɡ/
to beat with a whip or stick; informally, to sell persistently
mammon
C2+
/ˈmæmən/
wealth regarded as an evil influence or object of devotion
pocketbook
C2+
/ˈpɑkətˌbʊk/
a wallet or purse, or one's financial resources
poorly
C2+
/ˈpʊrli/
in a substandard manner, or in poor health
affluence
C2+
/ˈæfluəns/
an abundance of wealth or material possessions
billfold
C2+
/ˈbɪlˌfoʊld/
a folding wallet for holding paper money
catchpenny
C2+
/ˈkætʃˌpɛni/
cheap and showy, made only to sell quickly
disbursement
C2+
/dɪsˈbɝsmənt/
the payment or distribution of money from a fund
enactment
C2+
/ɪˈnæktmənt/
the process of making a bill into law; a statute so passed
greed
C2+
/ɡriːd/
an excessive desire for wealth or possessions
insure
C2+
/ɪnˈʃʊr/
to arrange financial compensation against loss, damage, or harm
outgo
C2+
/ˈaʊtˌɡoʊ/
money or resources spent; expenditure or outflow
richdom
C2+
/ˈrɪtʃdəm/
an archaic word for the state of being rich; wealth or richness
sorriness
C2+
/ˈsɑrinəs/
the state of being sorrowful, regretful, or pitifully poor
uneconomical
C2+
/ˌʌnˌikəˈnɑmɪkəl/
wasteful of money, time, or resources; not cost-effective
acquisitive
C2+
/əˈkwɪzətɪv/
eager to gain and possess things, especially wealth or property
avaricious
C2+
/ˌævəˈrɪʃəs/
extremely greedy for wealth or material gain
chaffer
C2+
/ˈtʃæfɚ/
to haggle or bargain over a price
cheeseparing
C2+
/ˈtʃiːzˌpɛrɪŋ/
excessively careful with money; stingy or miserly
fortuneless
C2+
/ˈfɔrtʃənləs/
without wealth or good fortune; luckless
garnishment
C2+
/ˈɡɑrnɪʃmənt/
a legal order to withhold money, typically from wages, to pay a debt
gratis
C2+
/ˈɡrætɪs/
free of charge; without payment
impoverish
C2+
/ɪmˈpɑvɚɪʃ/
to make poor, or to deprive of strength or richness
insolvent
C2+
/ɪnˈsɑlvənt/
unable to pay one's debts; bankrupt